The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-19

ton which swept the imperial city away
to the tune of his tabled fiddler. But to
one who knew that thousands OF the
money he represented was being burned
to ashes, 1t was anything but pleasing
sight"
"llow much docs your company lose
by tho Memphis cotton fires, Mr.. De
Camp"
1--WE had no risks on the Brooks & Nicely
fire, but the disaster OF last night catches
MS for $4,000 All of it is due TO the com
press company. We had no risks with the
buyers of the cotton"
do YOU think that these recent heavy
cotton fires will have the effect of increas-
ing the rate OF insurance on such risks
here?"
II am not prepared TO say that that will
be the elect The company which rep
resent, and which, dare say, is the largest
in the world, is very slow to change It's
tariff on rates, and | hardly think that the
loss here would in the least cause them
TO consider such thing. In bust
ness sense, the amount is not
OF that magnitude which would
cause the company to vince under it.
But kthnk this These cotton fires will
have the effect Of causing all Of the insur-
ance companies 10 be more cautious in
placing policies, and they will not take
such large amounts as heretofore. So far
as my company is concerned, we have de-
sired the cotton insurance OF Memphis,
and we viii still be glad to have it. Ii we
sustain loss we will pay it, and that is
all there is to it. While do not wish TO
appear as 4 critic, cannot refrain from
saying that tho water supply here is
wholly and dangerously deficient. Not
only are there too Jew engines to
protect the immense and growing
business OF this city, but, from
what | saw last night, even
the few fire engines which 30 maniully
fought the fire could not get water sufli-
Gent for the work they were trying TO do.
In cities where the water supply is best
the rates OF insurance arc lowest. Mem
phis needs more fire engines, and above
all things she needs better water works.
The vast property interests here demand it.
II strikes me, with the terrible warning
the citizens OF the city have had in the past
few days, they would scc that the water
works OF the city should bc equal TO sup
ply the demand oil such grave cmcrgen-
Cics."
col. JONI A. wIiTNER,
OF Atlanta, Ga, general southern agent OF
the Merchants Insurance company, of
Newark, Nj, which bears loss OF 81, 600
10y the burning OF Brooks, Nicely d Co. s
cotton shed, is also at the Gayoso hotel.
Asked rs 10 whether he thought the rates
OF insurance would be increased, on ac-
count oi the recent heavy losses, hc said:
mo, do not; bat companies will limit
themselves TO much smaller policies on
such risks that have cost them so dearly
here in the past week. My company loses
nothing by tho compress fire last night
The TACT is, favored co-insuunCc on such
risks. The compress company would not
agree 20 IT, consequently We are not inter
esicd in their calamity, which is greatly to
be regretted by every one. have main
tanned for many years that there
was not enough care taken in the
handling Of cotton, and that il is
the most dangerous commodity Of any
Tor insurance. For fear OF being deemed
over critical, prefer not 10 speak at
length on this matter. But the lessons of
the recent great fines in the cotton belt
assures me that the policy have followed
Tor my own company on cotton risks is
entirely correct. will not speak OF the
construction OF the cotton sheds only TO
say that they are not properly built and
cared Tor. But one thing certain, the
wa,er works Of this city is entirely met.
ticient for the service 10 be expected Of
It on such an occasion as last night"